Last time…

A sigh escaped her. The memory of her beloved doing the same came to mind. Carrying her in his arms so long ago, even as she slept. A tear escaped her, so she burrowed deeper into his haori to keep from bothering him.

It did not go unnoticed.

Ch. 41 Found

Inuyasha came upon the carnage first. He knew it must have been the damn icicle that had done it, for the remaining bodies were decapitated, sliced perfectly, and still sizzling with poison.

He didn't see the two he had been looking for anywhere though, yet as Miroku, Sango and Shippou arrived and cringed with the sight, the fox kit pointed to the sky in surprise.

They had just missed them, for up high in the clouds, he could see the bastard carrying away her away…his Kagome.

He tried to follow with all haste, forgetting all those around him, focusing on only one person.

Seeing her sleeping face, Sesshoumaru could not help but notice how she looked so weak and defenseless, even if perhaps she was not.

How could she trust him enough to sleep in his arms like a pup? Perhaps this is what made her so unique. She had loved his father enough to mate him after all, and she had taken Ryukensu as her own. She had even promised him her friendship, a young irresponsible pup who had left her unguarded, and who had broken his promise to the dragon.

Looking down below he saw what he had been looking for.

A small human village came into view, its inhabitants and filth already assailing his nose and delicate senses. Surely their healer would be more experienced with a human miko than any demon, for he would not understand or perhaps be too afraid to treat a priestess.

"Miko," he called out to her trying to wake her from her deep sleep.

"T –Touga" she called out hazily, her eyes adjusting and her mind awakening. All she could see was amber eyes and silver hair swaying in the breeze.

"Hn, miko we are here," he answered, no hint of annoyance at her reference. He supposed he did have a resemblance to his sire.

"Huh? Oh, Sesshoumaru-sama, I didn't - I mean I thought- never mind," she floundered with some embarrassment and renewed sadness.

"Where ae we?" the girl questioned instead as they landed softly at the edge of a clearing.

"At a human village. You must have a healer examine you."

"Will you wait here then? It shouldn't take long, I'm fine really. I've had worse injuries in my travels with Inuyasha," she huffed sleepily as he placed her down upon her feet.

"The hanyou is an incompetent protector, and a weakling," the daiyoukai stated matter-of-factly, irritated that he had allowed her to get hurt all of those times.

She could see the small village bustling with activity, not far below the hilltop where they stood, none the wiser that a powerful daiyoukai was standing so close to their boundary, and that great danger lurked so close by.

"I'll make it quick then Sesshoumaru-sama, and I'll come back as fast as I can," she affirmed once again.

"No, miko. You will stay here," he ordered. Yet, for some unknown reason and because the crestfallen look that suddenly adorned the girls features bothered him, he added, "I will return for you. I must…speak with someone." He disclosed.

Kagome didn't really know what to say. She had wanted to stay with him and as she had felt…close to him. She didn't want him abandoning her in some human village. She no longer belonged there. Besides, their healing was still so archaic, what did they know about true healing practices. What's more, what did they know about human, youkai, relationships? Or even about carrying a youkai's babe. Something she still did not want to acknowledge or even confront at the moment.

"Oh." She really didn't know what to say. She didn't want him to leave but she wouldn't beg him to stay. Besides he was a demon of his word and if he said he would return for her, then he would.

"Alright Sesshoumaru-sama, I'll wait for you here until you return."

The girl looked at him so forlornly, almost as if she was losing a loved one, tears brimming in her eyes. While his beast wanted to stay, wanted to reassure her, he only nodded his assent before taking to the sky and leaving her standing there.

She watched him as he disappeared in his cloud once more, only this time without her.

Kagome knew she looked like a wreck, but upon hearing the gasp of the villagers as she walked down the hill and into their village, she didn't know how bad she had really looked. Hearing that she must have been attacked and beaten, or having been imprisoned and tortured by youkai was a bit much she mused with a bit of amusement.

Her looks did get the town's small, round, motherly figure of a healer to come bounding forward almost as if ready to bury her.

"Come, dear one, come, let me take a look at you, you must be suffering greatly."

She was ushered into a small stuffy hut, a rather sparse and humble dwelling. A fire was kindled as a pot hung over the wood, its contents bubbling and steaming making the little hut so much stuffier and humid.

It did not take long to have her wounds examined and cleaned, and the miko was soon declared fit enough to walk.

Luckily nothing was broken, only a few bruises and a few bumps adorned her but they would eventually heal with time. Fortunately for her, nothing had to be stitched either.

Having been offered a modest yukata as a replacement for her torn and bloodied kimono, as well as warm water and a cloth to clean up with, the miko changed behind a shoji screen taking care to clean as quickly as possible. While she did so, she looked down at her body and noted nothing different. She didn't really know how many weeks she was along, but she rubbed her flat belly in wonder of what Sesshoumaru had revealed. Could she truly be carrying Touga's child? Deciding not to take any more time on the matter that was not truly confirmed yet, lest she break down in tears once more, she changed quickly. The miko didn't want anyone to intrude on her privacy.

She ran her fingers through her hair removing the tangles feeling so much cleaner. She was still so very tired, and Kagome couldn't help but wonder where Sesshoumaru had gone to.

Nevertheless, she would stay in this village and wait for him to return for her. She also couldn't help but question where she would sleep for the night. Would the healer allow her to stay here, in her little home? Or would she have to look for accommodations elsewhere?

The rising voices of the villagers garnered her attention just then, taking her mind off her lodgings for the night. What was all the commotion about? She wondered tiredly. Had an animal escaped its enclosure? Her powers weren't the best at the moment but she didn't feel anything evil lurking close by.

Walking outside, the air much fresher, cooling her down immediately, the young woman heard bickering, yelling, and…cursing? It couldn't be…could it?

"Where the hell is she?!" He boomed beyond frustrated, unable to smell her or see her anywhere. "Ya better know before I tear the damn village down!"

"Inuyasha, calm yourself, these people will not tell you anything, you are…not exactly human," Miroku offered with a sigh.

"And threatening them, won't help either inu-baka," added the small kitsune with a shake of his head.

"Perhaps we should just look around and ask nicely?" Sango offered with another sigh looking at the impetuous hanyou.

The sound of a well-known feminine voice interrupted his tirade.

"Inuyasha?" the miko questioned wondering why he was acting so hot-headed. "What's going on?" she asked in bewilderment as she stepped out of the hut and began walking toward them.

"You…eh? Kagome?! Where the hell have you been wench?"

"Kagome!" the rest of the inu-tachi exclaimed in welcome surprise. "Are you well?"

Sango ran to the girl and embraced her in a tight hug while Shippou whittled his way through both girls and jumped into her arms.

Kagome was rather lost that the whole of her friends were here, but then…she hadn't seen them in so long, tears pooled in her eyes as she hugged them back.

"Did something happen, are you ok?" Questioned the kitsune smelling the scent of her tears.

"N- No," she replied, "It's just been so long since I last saw you all," she offered sadly.

"What do you mean Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked innocently "We just saw you three weeks ago. We just supposed you took a longer time away with your family…is this not the case?"

"Keh, I told ya the wench didn't look right. She must've hit her head on the well. You know how clumsy she is," the hanyou offered. "But what the hell did Sesshoumaru want with ya anyway, and why'd he dump you in this village?"

"Kagome…you smell different," Shippou added getting closer to her and sniffing lightly.

"Well, I…" she licked her lips not exactly knowing what to say. What should she say? What could she say?

"It's a long story," she finally replied lamely as she saw of all of their concerned faces watching her intently.

Looking at Shippou who was still so interested in her scent, she shook her head silently telling him no with her eyes. Even for his young age, he got the hint and stopped smelling her.

"Let's go wench," the red-clad boy demanded as he saw a few brave villagers come forward with axes and crude weapons, as if that would deter him.

"I can't Inuyasha, not yet," the miko answered firmly.

"What? Why the hell not?!" he retorted in rising anger. "You aren't hurt…are you?" he asked suspiciously, seeing no real injury on the girl.

"Well…no, but I promised Sesshoumaru-sama I would stay here and wait for him."

Inuyasha's contorted face of disbelief was her only response. Miroku and Sango's surprised gasp however soon turned into questioning.

"Why Kagome-sama, what does he want of you?"

"Is he threatening you Kagome? You can tell us!" Sango exclaimed in anger.

"Yeah, I've never seen the daiyoukai act that way before," offered Shippou innocently.

"Eh heh, no well, I'm fine, it's just that he wanted me to wait for him here. We still…have things to discuss," she added lamely not knowing how to explain. In fact, the priestess didn't even know why she was waiting for him, or why she felt she could even trust him to begin with. Still, it was so hard to explain.

"LIKE HELL!" Exclaimed Inuyasha, his fury that she even trusted that bastard not to kill her evident. What the hell was wrong with her? Since when did she go off with Sesshoumaru and have 'conversations.'

"Have you been poisoned? Bewitched? Who did it?" He ranted, still unable to believe this turn of events. She was supposed to come back from the well and go shard hunting with him again. Not this.

"Inuyasha," the miko called out, "what are you taking about? I told you, it was a long story!"

"Well start explaining wench!"

Her growl of frustration was his only reply. He was so pigheaded!

"I believe the explanation can wait, we should get going. It seems our welcome has come to an end," the houshi explained with patience watching the many villagers begin to curse at them and threaten them with pitchforks and axes.

Kagome knew he was right, there was no way she was going to be allowed to stay in the village now. And besides, it seemed that Inuyasha was having none of it. There was no way he was going to leave without her.

She sighed.

She only hoped Sesshoumaru wouldn't be too mad. He had never really even told her when he would return, only that he would. They would probably cross paths again anyway. They usually did. He always managed to find Inuyasha no matter where they were.

The boy presented his back to her, and urged her to get on. Just as weapons and objects began to be hurled at them, she jumped on without another word.

Closing her eyes she felt the world whish by her. She greeted her teeth with the dizziness that was assailing her. Why in heavens name did she ever like this mode of transportation or use it so often? She wondered in bewilderment.

The miko supposed that once upon a time she thought she was so in love with the boy, that this was one of the few ways she could actually be near to him, to actually be able to feel him and touch him.

Hmm. How pitiful, the madness of a girl who did not know then, what real love is.

It took them some time, but Inuyasha eventually found a perfect, secluded little spot between some thick bushes and trees where they could rest, and where he could interrogate her, for it seemed she was up to something. If Sesshoumaru was involved it couldn't be anything good.

What the hell was going on with her?

Looking around, watching the way everyone seemed to go about their normal duties, setting up camp, preparing a fire, the everyday mundane things they had done together for so long, it all seemed surreal. How could only three weeks have passed for them? And it had been so long for her? It didn't make any sense, but she supposed that the kami's could do anything they wanted, even shorten time for some, or lengthen it for others.

Watching the boy, as he barked out orders everyone seemed to ignore, she could only wonder what she had ever seen in him to begin with. He was so immature, so rough around the edges, had never said anything kind to her, and had treated her as a simple shard hunter and nothing more. She couldn't even add up all the times he had compared her to Kikyo and she had come up lacking.

He was not at all honorable like his father, putting everyone's needs ahead of his own. He did not lead with a quiet strength or a natural commanding ability. In fact, in many ways he was nothing like Touga at all. Perhaps only his hair and eyes, and temper matched.

Just the thought of her silver haired mate brought fresh tears to her eyes. How was she going to live without him? How was she going to raise his child, if she was indeed pregnant? She had seen the hope in his eyes before her time jump, then, it had been too late, he had died without seeing her again, without knowing how much she loved him.

Unable to contain herself, she burst into tears, stopping everyone in their tracks as they looked at her in shock and confusion. What was the matter with her?

The hanyou's voice seemed to be the loudest, though everyone spoke at once asking questions and trying to comfort her.

"What the hell is wrong with you wench? You've been so weird since you came back? What the hall happened to ya?"

He pushed ahead of everyone as Sango rushed to her side and Shippou along with her.

Inuyasha knew something strange was up but what could it be? Was she possessed? She had better tell him dammit, or he was going to shake it out of her.

He grabbed her upper arms and yanked her up to stand in front of him before anyone could stop him. She was gonna talk one way or another.

"Tell me wench, what the hell is the matter with you? Why is that cold bastard carrying you off all of a sudden and being all weird and shit?" He questioned, narrowing his eyes at her in suspicion.

As she only stood there crying and covering her face with her hands, he shook her, trying to get her to answer and stop her incessant bawling.

To the hanyou's shock two things happened then that he would not be able to explain. One, his sword Tetsusaiga began to shake in its scabbard taking him by surprise. And two, the low growl he heard from an angry silver haired daiyoukai who had suddenly landed in the clearing beside him so unexpectedly startled him into letting her go.

What the hell was going on…?

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There ya go, another long chapter. Again, thanks for your awesome reviews and your kind words. I so appreciate the motivation ^-^.

BUT PLEASE, KEEP ON REVIEWING!